Checkwriter



F. E. JONES.

CHECKWRITER. APPLICATIQN FILED 001.23, 1919.

1,334,540, Patented Mar. 23, 1920.

7 reailTJbfiea" FRED E. JONES, OF BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

GHEGKWRITER.

Specification of Letters sa a.

Patented Mar. 23, 1920.

Application filed October 23, 1919. Serial No. 332,726.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED E. J ones, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Brockton, Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Oheckwriters, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My present invention is an improved portable printing and writing device, intended particularly as a pocket check writer and protector, adapted to be carried about the person in pocket or pocket book. Broadly considered, my invention contemplates the use of a series of interchangeable elements, with provision for automatically holding all said elements together, each inclosing and protecting the other, and constituting a printing apparatus having capacity for universal interchangeability to print, stamp or indicate any desired number, amount or characters desired. Furthermore, I contemplate utilizing these elements in so compact a form as to permit of their being carried in the person, in a form but slightly larger than that of the usual fountain pen, selffeeding pencils, or the like, and for this purpose may be formed either round, square, octagonal, or of similar shape or cross-section. By arranging a plurality of elements, each carrying a different number or charactor and having all of these elements telescoped together and interchangeable with a portion of one element constituting the inking pad holder for the next adjacent ele ment, it will be appreciated that a quick adjustment to expose any predetermined amount, number or character, can be made, and when so made, the character thus ex posed ready for use, has just been inked and is ready for imprinting its character on the check or other device.

A still further feature of my invention includes the provision of type, characters or figures, which will macerate the check or paper, thus producing the safety check writmg of more expensive and complex ina-,

chines. Further features of the invention, novel combinations and parts and important advantages will be hereinafter more fully pointed out and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Figure l is a view of a casing or cover for my improved check writer, although such cover is entirely optional;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal view with the cover shown in cross-section and the plurality of interfitting and interchangeable character-carrying elements disclosed;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of one of the printing and cutting surfaces of the said elements, on an enlarged scale;

Fig. a is a view in perspective showing a separated element on an enlarged scale; and

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view, also on the saint scale as Figs. 3 and t, showing the interchangeable elements in assembled or compact formation.

It will be appreciated that the apparatus, while herein shown as rectangular, may be round, with the elements alined by a key or other device, or of any desired contour in cross section. I prefer, however, to make these elements rectangular, as 1 thereby secured the advantages and benefits of a firm, interlocking, non-rotating, and readily wedging construction, which presents a smooth exterior, and in fact, the apparatus can be carried safely without a casing or covering. For neatness, however, I prefer to use the thin metallic casing 1 and cap 2, together with a pocket clip 3 which may be either permanently or temporarily attached to the cap in a manner similar to such clips as now generally employed on fountain pens.

, My novel printing and writing apparatus consists in a plurality of sections such as indicated at 5. These sections being formed with anouter face or surface finished or colored in any desired way. Preferably each section is metallic or of hard rubber, fiber, celluloid or the like, and consists in a recessed portion 6 adapted to carry an inking pad 7 and constructed toreceive the next adj aoent element, and a projecting section 9, of suitable form and contour to fit within the recess 6 with a wedging, binding effect. Each of these sections are of similar interchangeable form, excepting only the lowermost section 11 and the topmost 12. Each of these sections may be provided with a printingplate 15 adapted to be removably secured to the bottom portion 9 as by sliding within the co'ciperating dovetailed grooves 16 and 17 or in any other desired manner. In this way the character, numher, figure or printing device on the plate 15 can'be easily changed orrenew'ed' when worn. I also prefer to have appear on the outer surface of each section .a duplicate of the word, character, or the like on the plate 15 carried thereby. For example, the section 5 as shown in the drawings, has the slide 15 formed with the word Pay in printing and cutting letters, and on the ex posed side is also placed the Word Pay to show what this element will print. In the same manner the section 20 has the word Only both on the side and on its lowermost printing face, the section 21 has the sign, the section 22 has the sign, and the remaining ten sections carrying the numbers from 1 to 0 inclusive, and as many other additional sections with numbers, characters, figures, etc., as is wished for, may be arranged or applied at any time to the apparatus. The operation of this improved, portable, pocket printer and check writer will be readily understood. The several pads 7 being inked, will, of course, supply the superimposed figures, letters or numbers with printing medium for a considerable period of time and can be renewed or reinked when exhausted. Upon removal of the lower cap 11 the apparatus is ready to stamp the word Pay on a check or other instrument, the mere removal of one section thus presenting the next adjacent print ing portion, ready inked, for the stamping operation. The cap 11 may then be replaced and again removed with the section 5 accompanying it, by slightly shifting the fingers to include a sufficient grasp on the section 5 to remove it, thereby presenting Only carried ready for stamping. Anyone of the elements carrying figures may then be removed and the adjacent one is ready for printing and the signs and signs may be similarly employed. The apparatus can be instantly positioned ready for printing in sequence of numbers, by successively taking off the required section to expose the printing element on the next adjacent section. Thusto print 591 the user separates the printing elements between the 4 and 5, removing the entire cap 11 and all characters up to 4, thus exposing the element 5, which is then stamped, replaced and removed with all other elements on the cap 11 u to and including 8, thereby exposing the figure 9 for printing, whereupon all elements are again joined and the lowermost portion-separated between the signs and 1, thus exposing 1 ready for printing. In this way any figure, number or amount can be quickly and instantly printed, and with the characters on the slides 15 formed to also macerate the paper, as is desirable, they both print and protect the check. It will be readily seen that any set or series of fig ures, characters, numbers or marks can be included between the caps 11 and 12 of the device, these two end pieces constitute han dle portions with which to manipulate and hold the other characters. The wedging secured by the members 9 being forced into the socket 6, also holds the separable elements into sufiiciently firm contact and alinement to impart rigidity to the entire apparatus and enable the exposed figures in any section to be impressed or imprinted on the check or other article. As soon as the sections are replaced, the characters are instantly re-inked, and are again ready for a succeeding action. If desired, also, the several sections can be interchanged Without harm or difliculty, as it is entirely 0ptional to have them arranged in the sequence shown in the drawings, each party being thus able to arrange his apparatus to suit his convenience and needs. The various inking pads 7 can be arranged in a series or set of colors, varying as required for any particular usage. Thus the figures may be in one color and the words of another color, the 35 sign of one color and the sign of another color, etc.

I believe that my invention of a universally interchangeable printing apparatus of compact pocket size, automatically inking or re-inking each character when replaced, 9

and separable at any point, is a distinct novelty, and I therefore wish to claim the same broadly. I also wish it understood that I am not limited to size, form, crosssection or arrangement of the interlocking elements, and that a series of words, letters, trademarks, seals, or other devices can be employed, either alone, or in combination with the figures, letters, numerals, and with each other. Also the interlocking means may comprise any suitable or equivalent mechanical device instead of the wedging action above explained.

My invention is further described and defined in the form of claims as follows:

1. A portable apparatus of the kind described, consisting in a plurality of interchangeable and interlocking sections, having different characters carried thereon at the interlocking faces and being separable at any section to enable a predetermined character to be positioned for use.

2. An apparatus of the kind described, consisting in a plurality of interchangeable and interlocking sections, having various characters carried thereon and being separable at any section to enable the character thereon to be impressed, one section having .an inking pad for the next adjacent section.

3. An apparatus of the kind described, consisting in a plurality of interchangeable and interlocking sections, having various characters carried thereon and being separable at any section to enable the character thereon to be impressed, each section having a renewable and detachable printing plate carrying the desired insignia for said section.

4:- Apparatus of the kind described, consisting in a portable check Writer, carrying a plurality of numbers, words and signs, said apparatus being separable at each character to expose the same for use and being interlocked With adjacent characters when in assembled position.

5. An element adapted for interlocking with a plurality of other elements, covering cooperating characters, said element consisting in a detachable, wedge-receiving portion adapted to interlock with similar elements above and below, one portion of said interlocking element carrying a character to be used and the other portion of said element carrying an inking pad for the next adjacent element.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

FRED E. JONES.

Witnesses:

JAMES R. HODDER, HAROLD J. CLARK. 

